As it adds two new routes from Cardiff Airport, CityJet is to name one of its aircraft after the 'ultimate Welsh icon', to be chosen by the people of Wales.

The airline and the airport have launched a social media poll this week to ask Welsh people to vote for their favourite among six iconic figures: Saint David, Dylan Thomas, Gareth Edwards, Owain Glynd?r, Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson and Simon Weston.

One of CityJet’s Cardiff-based aircraft will then be named after the recipient of the most votes on Facebook and Twitter.

CityJet has launched the poll to mark the start of its newest route from Cardiff to Edinburgh, which sees three daily flights between the two capitals priced from £64 one way and £99 return. All fares include 23kgs of hold luggage and complimentary snack and drink service.

The plane will then be named in time for the start of CityJet’s next new route out of Cardiff Airport, to Jersey, with five weekly return flights from April 17.

Christine Ourmières, CityJet’s chief executive officer, said: “This is an exciting time for CityJet and further strengthens our commitment to Cardiff and the wider Welsh community. We hope that our new route from Cardiff to Edinburgh will provide vital connections for both business and leisure passengers in the Welsh capital.

“We wanted to give the Welsh public the choice of naming one of our planes as a thank you for welcoming us to the city. We look forward to the response and will name the aircraft during April.”

CityJet began flying out of Cardiff Airport in January with routes to Paris-Orly and Glasgow. The summer schedule will also see a third daily flight added to the Glasgow route on Thursdays and Fridays whilst Paris-Orly will be served every day of the week.

To enter the poll, CityJet and Cardiff Airport fans on Facebook will be invited to cast their vote by liking the images of the icon they want to win. On Twitter, followers can vote by tweeting the name of their chosen hero and @-mentioning both @Cardiff_Airport and @cityjet along with the hashtag #nametheplane.

Lowest fares are available now and bookable online at www.cityjet.com.

I might add of course, that Ernest Willows was the first human being ever to fly from Cardiff to London. Wetherspoons have a pub in Cardiff named after him.

.

[quote][p][bold]Ian (Mac) MacKinlay[/bold] wrote:
.
Ernest Willows.
Unsung Cardiffian airship pioneer.
.[/p][/quote].
I might add of course, that Ernest Willows was the first human being ever to fly from Cardiff to London. Wetherspoons have a pub in Cardiff named after him.
.Ian (Mac) MacKinlay

You do realise, I suppose, that it is an aircraft, not the airport, that a name is being sought for.

.

[quote][p][bold]GardenVarietyMushroo
m[/bold] wrote:
I say we call it 'The White Elephant'.[/p][/quote].
You do realise, I suppose, that it is an aircraft, not the airport, that a name is being sought for.
.Ian (Mac) MacKinlay

You do realise, I suppose, that it is an aircraft, not the airport, that a name is being sought for.

.

I can read.

[quote][p][bold]Ian (Mac) MacKinlay[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]GardenVarietyMushroo
m[/bold] wrote:
I say we call it 'The White Elephant'.[/p][/quote].
You do realise, I suppose, that it is an aircraft, not the airport, that a name is being sought for.
.[/p][/quote]I can read.GardenVarietyMushroom